Systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods of personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly are provided. The systems include a mattress assembly having an air bladder, a relief valve for deflating the air bladder, a pump for inflating the air bladder, a pressure sensor for providing pressure change data, and a controller for controlling the inflation and the deflation of the air bladder, in the methods, the air bladder is inflated to an initial pressure and a particular user is positioned on the mattress assembly. Pressure change data for the air bladder is then collected and is used to determine a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder for the particular user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly. In particular, the present invention relates systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly including an air bladder whereby pressure change data is collected and used to determine personalized pressure settings for a particular user.

BACKGROUND

Mattress assemblies that make use of air bladders, which are also known as air beds, are becoming increasing popular as an alternative to traditional mattresses. Unlike traditional mattress assemblies where the firmness of the mattress assemblies are not adjustable, the firmness of a mattress assembly that makes use of an air bladder is readily adjustable by increasing or decreasing the amount of air included in the air bladder present within the mattress assembly. In other words, by changing the pressure in the air bladder of such a mattress assembly, a user can readily change the firmness of the mattress assembly and, consequently, the support provided by the mattress assembly to the user.

Generally, in mattress assemblies that make use of an air bladder, a lower amount of pressure in the air bladder provides a decreased level of firmness, whereas a higher amount of pressure in the air bladder provides an increased level of firmness. However, it has been observed that when some users lay upon a mattress assembly that makes use of an air bladder, the lower pressure settings of such a mattress assembly do not simply provide for a softer “feel,” but instead often result in those mattress assemblies not supporting the entire weight of the user. In such situations, one or more portions of the body of a user are then often supported by the mattress assembly foundation, which is sometimes referred to as “bottoming out” the mattress assembly.

Conversely, it has also been observed that the higher pressure settings of some mattress assemblies that make use of air bladders are far too firm for a particular user. For instance, it has been observed that when some users lay upon such mattress assemblies, the pressure inside of the air bladders increases to a point where the mattress assembly is no longer comfortable for the user or where the pressure inside the air bladder exceeds the maximum allowable limits and damage to the air bladder occurs. Accordingly, systems and methods that allow for the pressure settings in a mattress assembly that makes use of an air bladder to be personalized for a particular user would be both highly desirable and beneficial.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly. In particular, the present invention includes systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly including an air bladder whereby pressure change data is collected and used to determine personalized pressure settings for a particular user. Thus, the present invention allows a particular user to personalize the pressure settings of the mattress assembly to increase their level of comfort, including sleep comfort.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly is provided that comprises a mattress assembly including an air bladder. The system also includes a pump that is operably connected to the air bladder and that inflates the air bladder, and a relief valve that is operably connected to the air bladder and that deflates the air bladder. In the system, a pressure sensor is additionally connected to the air bladder and functions to collect and provide pressure change data that can be used determine personalized pressure settings for a user.

The exemplary system further comprises a controller that is connected to a power supply and that communicates with the pump, the relief valve, and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive a selection of one or more setup routines, which function to control the inflation and deflation of the air bladder. More specifically, the setup routines are directed to a selected timing for inflating and deflating the air bladder, and are also directed to a timing for collecting pressure change data from the pressure sensor to thereby determine a minimum and/or a maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder.

In operation, in one exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure setting in a mattress assembly that makes use of such a system, minimum and maximum pressure limits are established for a particular user by first providing the mattress assembly including the air bladder. The air bladder is subsequently inflated by the air pump, via the output of a control signal from the processor of the controller, to a predetermined initial pressure. A user is then positioned on the mattress assembly and selects a setup routine, which is received by the controller. The setup routine is subsequently initiated by the controller and proceeds through a series of steps in which the controller initially sends an output signal to the relief valve to open and cause the air bladder to partially deflate. The pressure sensor then measures the air pressure in the air bladder after the initial deflation and communicates the measured air pressure to the controller, which, in turn, determines an amount of decrease in pressure in the air bladder and further determines the rate of change in the air pressure in the air bladder. Upon determining a rate of change in the air pressure in the air bladder, the controller then determines whether the rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder is at a threshold value. In this regard, the relief valve will typically remain open until the threshold value is reached, at which time the step of collecting pressure change data is complete. In some embodiments, however, if the relief valve is closed and the threshold value is not reached, the relief valve is opened again to allow more air to be released from the air bladder, and the amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder and the rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder are again determined until the threshold value is reached and the collection of pressure change data is complete.

After the threshold value is reached, a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder is next determined and is based on the pressure change data collected. More particularly, the minimum personalized pressure is based on the pressure in the air bladder at the time when the rate of change of pressure reaches or exceeds the threshold value. Subsequent to determining the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder in the mattress assembly, the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder can be determined by adding a predetermined pressure difference to the previously-determined minimum personalized pressure or by limiting the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder to a level not to exceed the maximum operating pressure for the air bladder (e.g., if adding the predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure would result in the maximum operating pressure of the air bladder being exceeded).

In other implementations of the methods of the present invention, the minimum and maximum personalized pressures for an air bladder used in an exemplary system is not determined by measuring whether a rate of change has reached a given threshold value, but is instead determined by collecting pressure change data of a different nature subsequent to positioning a user on a mattress assembly. For example, in certain implementations, the initial steps of the method are performed substantially as described above, but, subsequent to determining the rate of change of pressure, the determined rate of change of pressure is not compared to a threshold value. Rather, in some implementations, the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder is compared to a control rate of change that is provided by a previously-established dataset that correlates various rates of change of air pressure in an air bladder to minimum pressures for the air bladder. In this regard, once the rate of change of air pressure in the air bladder has been compared to a control rate of change, the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder can be determined by identifying the minimum personalized pressure in the dataset that is associated with the particular control rate of change. The maximum personalized pressure can then be determined by, for example, identifying the maximum air pressure for the air bladder or by adding a given predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure, as described above.

As another example of an exemplary method of the present invention where the minimum and maximum personalized pressures are not determined by measuring whether a rate of change has reached a given threshold value, in some implementations and instead of deflating the air bladder and monitoring a rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder, an initial change in air pressure in the air bladder is determined subsequent to positioning the user on the air bladder and is used to determine minimum and maximum personalized pressures for the air bladder. More specifically, upon positioning the user on the mattress assembly, that initial change in air pressure is communicated to the controller which determines the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder by comparing the initial change in pressure to a control value (e.g., a control value included in a pre-established dataset correlating various changes in pressure to minimum personalized pressures for particular user of the mattress assembly).

In still further implementations of the methods of the present invention, rather than collecting pressure change data after positioning a user on the mattress assembly and deflating the air bladder or after the initial change in air pressure that is experienced subsequent to positioning a user on the air bladder, pressure change data is collected and is used to determine a minimum and maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder while the air bladder is being inflated. For example, in one exemplary implementation, the mattress assembly is first provided and the air bladder is inflated to a low initial pressure. Then, when a particular user is subsequently positioned on the mattress assembly, the mattress assembly is already bottomed out or is inflated to the lowest possible pressure setting at which the user does not bottom out. The user can then select the appropriate setup routine, and the controller then causes the air bladder to be inflated to a secondary pressure. As the air bladder is being inflated to the secondary pressure, pressure change data is collected. At that point in time, after collecting the pressure change data, the initial pressure in the air bladder and the pressure change data collected for that particular user can be used to determine the minimum and maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the description, figures, and non-limiting examples in this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary system for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly in accordance with the present invention, where a rate of change in pressure is used to determine a personalized pressure setting for a particular user of the mattress assembly;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly in accordance with the present invention, but where a rate of change in pressure is compared to a control rate of change to determine a personalized pressure setting for a particular user of the mattress assembly;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly in accordance with the present invention, but where an initial change in air pressure subsequent to positioning a particular user on the mattress assembly is used to determine a personalized pressure setting for the particular user of the mattress assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly in accordance with the present invention, but where the changes in pressure that occur as an air bladder is inflated are used to determine a personalized pressure setting for a particular user of the mattress assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly. In particular, the present invention includes systems and methods for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly including an air bladder whereby pressure change data is collected and used to determine personalized pressure settings for a particular user. Thus, the present invention allows a particular user to personalize the pressure settings of the mattress assembly to increase their level of comfort, including sleep comfort.

Referring first to FIG. 1, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system 10 for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly is provided that comprises a mattress assembly 20 including an air bladder 22. The system also includes an air pump 30 that is operably connected to the air bladder 22 to provide air to the air bladder 22 and, in turn, inflate the air bladder 22. Similarly, the system 10 includes a relief valve 40 that is operably connected to the air bladder 22 to release air from and, consequently, deflate the air bladder 22. In the system 10, a pressure sensor 50 is additionally operably connected to the air bladder 22 and functions to collect and provide pressure change data that can be used determine personalized pressure settings for a particular user, as described in further detail below.

The system 10 further comprises a controller 60 that is connected to a power supply 70 and that communicates with the air pump 30, the relief valve 40, and the pressure sensor 50. The controller 60 is configured to receive a selection of one or more setup routines, which function to control the inflation and deflation of the air bladder 22. In particular, and as also described in further detail below, the setup routines are directed to a selected timing for inflating and deflating the air bladder 22, and are also directed to a timing for collecting pressure change data from the pressure sensor 50 to thereby determine a minimum and/or a maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22. In this regard, in addition to the selection of the one or more setup routines being received by the controller, the setup routines are typically stored in a data storage device 85 associated with the controller 60. Then, when a particular setup routine is selected, a processor 80 associated with the controller 60, outputs a control signal to the air pump 30 or to the relief valve 40 to inflate or deflate the air bladder 22, and further outputs a signal to the pressure sensor 50 to control the timing of the pressure change data collected by the pressure sensor 50.

With respect to the processor 80, the terms “processor” or “processing device” are used interchangeably herein to describe one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, central processing units, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or the like for executing instructions stored on the data storage device 85. Of course, with respect to the data storage device 85, the term “data storage device” is understood to mean physical devices (computer readable media) used to store programs (sequences of instructions) or data (e.g. program state information) on a non-transient basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device, including primary memory used for the information in physical systems which are fast (i.e. RAM), and secondary memory, which are physical devices for program and data storage which are slow to access but offer higher memory capacity. Traditional secondary memory includes tape, magnetic disks and optical discs (CD-ROM and DVD-ROM). The term “memory” is often (but not always) associated with addressable semiconductor memory, i.e. integrated circuits consisting of silicon-based transistors, used for example as primary memory but also other purposes in computers and other digital electronic devices. Semiconductor memory includes both volatile and non-volatile memory. Examples of non-volatile memory include flash memory (sometimes used as secondary, sometimes primary computer memory) and ROM/PROM/EPROM/EEPROM memory. Examples of volatile memory include dynamic RAM memory, DRAM, and static RAM memory, SRAM.

As indicated, and to further provide control over the air pump 30 and the relief valve 40, as well as the inflation and deflation of the air bladder 22, the pressure sensor 50 included in the mattress assembly 20 directly measures the pressure in the air bladder 22 and then operates to communicate data relating to the pressure in the air bladder 22 to the controller 60 at a particular time point identified by the setup routine (e.g., subsequent to a user resting on the mattress assembly 20, as the air bladder 22 is deflating, etc.). In response to that pressure data, the controller 60 can then store and utilize the data gathered at various time points to calculate an increase in pressure, a decrease in pressure, a rate of change in pressure, or combinations thereof, which may then be used to establish minimum and maximum pressure limits for a particular user.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one exemplary implementation of a method for personalizing pressure setting in a mattress assembly that makes use of the system 10 of the present invention, minimum and maximum personalized pressure limits are established for a particular user by first providing the mattress assembly 20 including the air bladder 22, as indicated by step 100. The air bladder 22 is subsequently inflated by the air pump 30, via the output of a control signal from the processor 80 of the controller 60, to a predetermined initial pressure that is generally independent of the size of a particular user and is close to the maximum operating pressure of the air bladder 22, such as, for example, about 0.7 psi, as indicated by step 110. A user is then positioned on the mattress assembly 20, as indicated by step 120.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, once the particular user is positioned on the mattress assembly 20, the user then selects a setup routine, as indicated by step 125, which can be initiated from a remote control 90 and communicated to the controller 60. In the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 2, and as indicated generally by step 130, the setup routine is then initiated by the controller 60 and proceeds through a series of steps 132, 134, 136, 138, in which the air bladder 22 is selectively inflated and deflated and in which pressure change data is collected. Specifically, in the setup routine indicated by step 130 in FIG. 2, the controller 60 initially sends an output signal to the relief valve 40 to open and the weight of the particular user positioned on the mattress assembly 20 causes the air bladder 22 to partially deflate. Next, the pressure sensor 50 measures the air pressure in the air bladder 22 subsequent to the initial deflation and communicates the measured air pressure to the controller 60. In turn, the controller 60 then determines an amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder 22 and further determines the rate of change in the air pressure, as indicated by steps 134 and 136, respectively.

With further respect to determining the rate of change in pressure, in some implementations, the determination of the amount of decrease in pressure (step 134) can be done at a series of time points and then analyzed at each of the time points to determine the rate of change of the pressure (step 136) over the series of time points. Alternatively, in other implementations, the determination of the amount of decrease in pressure in step 134 can also be performed over a specific time period, such that the rate of change of the pressure can be determined more directly over a single time period. For example, a specific time period of ten seconds can be selected, and the rate of change of the pressure can be determined by calculating the total decrease in pressure in the air bladder over the ten second time period.

In addition to determining the amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder over a series of time points or over a single specific time period, in some implementations, each the individual steps collectively comprising the setup routine indicated generally by step 130 can also be performed while the air bladder 22 is continuously deflated (i.e. where the relief valve 40 remains open), such that the steps of determining the amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder (step 134) and determining the rate of change in the air pressure in the air bladder 22 are performed concurrently with the deflation of the air bladder 22 (step 132). Moreover, if desired, each the individual steps collectively comprising the setup routine indicated generally by step 130 can also be performed in a manner where the relief valve 40 is alternately opened and closed. For example, the relief valve 40 can be opened until a specific time has elapsed, until a specific change in pressure is measured in the air bladder 22, until a specific volume of air is released from the air bladder 22, or until some other predetermined event occurs. Once the predetermined event has occurred, the relief valve 40 can then be closed while the amount of decrease in the air pressure in the air bladder 22 is determined (step 134) and the rate of change in the air pressure is determined (step 136).

Regardless of whether the amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder 22 is measured over a series of time points or over a single specific time period, and also regardless of whether the air bladder 22 is continuously deflated or deflated in an stepwise manner, upon determining a rate of change in the air pressure in the air bladder 22, in the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 then determines whether the rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder 22 is at a threshold value, as indicated by step 138. In this regard, in some implementations, the relief valve 40 can remain open the threshold value is reached, at which time the relief valve 40 is closed and the step of collecting pressure change data is complete. In other implementations, however, if the relief valve 40 is closed and the controller 60 determines that the rate of change is not at the threshold value then, via a control signal from the controller 60, the relief valve 40 is opened again to allow more air to be released from the air bladder 22 and the amount of decrease in air pressure in the air bladder 22 (step 134) and the rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder 22 (step 136) is again determined and, if necessary, repeated until the rate of change of the pressure reaches or exceeds the threshold value. Again though, once the rate of change of the pressure is determined to have reached or passed the threshold value, then the step of collecting pressure change data is complete.

With respect to the threshold value, various threshold values for the rate of change may be selected for a particular setup routine and can be selected with regard to the type of mattress assembly and air bladder being utilized and with regard to the pressure setting preferences of the particular user (i.e., whether the user prefers a “soft” or a “firm” feel). Generally, however, the threshold value for the rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder 22 in the mattress assembly 20 of the system 10 is a relative minimum value as the air bladder 22 is deflated from full or partially inflated to a minimum fill level. For instance, in some implementations and as part of a particular setup routine, the controller 60 can be configured to plot the amount of decrease in pressure observed in the air bladder 22 over a given time period and the threshold value can be the point at which the curve resulting from that plot begins to level or, in other words, the point at which the “knee” of the curve can be found. In this regard, the rate at which the air bladder 22 deflates will, of course, be specific to the particular user, as larger users will likely cause the air bladder 22 to deflate more quickly than smaller users, but the deflation rate of the air bladder 22 will also likely depend on the way in which a particular user's weight is distributed across the mattress assembly 20. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory or mechanism, however, it is believed that by plotting the amount of decrease in pressure observed in the system 10 over a given time period and by designating the threshold value as the point at which the resulting curve begins to level, a minimum pressure for the air bladder 22 that is personalized for a particular user can be determined more accurately than can be done in traditional mattress assemblies including an air bladder where the user is required to engage in a trial-and-error type of exercise to identify a desirable minimum pressure. In some implementations, the threshold value for the rate of change of the pressure is a minimum value for the rate of change of pressure that is representative of an equilibrium that is reached between the pressure exerted on the air bladder 22 by the particular user (e.g., mass of the user/surface area contact) and the pressure in the air bladder 22. At that equilibrium point, as air is released from the air bladder, the pressure in the air bladder exhibits a low rate of change (i.e., the pressure decreases slowly over a time period) until such time as a sufficient volume of air has been released and the air bladder 22 deflates to a point where the user contacts the underlying bed foundation and, in turn, the pressure in the air bladder 22 begins to drop at a faster rate due to the mass of the user being supported by the air bladder 22 and not the underlying foundation.

Regardless of the particular threshold limit utilized as part of the setup routine, and referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, after the threshold value is reached, a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 is then determined based on the pressure change data collected, as indicated by step 140. In particular, the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 is determined based on the pressure in the air bladder 22 at the time the rate of change reaches or exceeds the threshold value. In other words, the pressure in the air bladder 22 at the time the rate of change is at the threshold value is taken directly for the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22.

Subsequent to determining the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 in the mattress assembly 20, the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 is then determined and both the minimum personalized pressure and maximum personalized pressure are stored in the data storage device 85 of the controller, as indicated by step ISO and step 160. Similar to the threshold values utilized to identify the minimum personalized pressure, the maximum personalized pressure for an air bladder can also vary depending on the type of mattress assembly and air bladder being utilized and the preferences of the particular user. Typically, however, to allow the softness or firmness of the air bladder 22 in the mattress assembly 20 to be adjusted in a stepwise manner, the maximum personalized pressure of the air bladder 22 is determined by adding a predetermined pressure difference (e.g., about 0.7 psi) to the previously-determined minimum personalized pressure. In this regard, the predetermined pressure difference can then be broken down into a series of increments to allow the feel of the mattress assembly 20 to be adjusted from the softer, minimum personalized pressure to the firmer, maximum personalized pressure. In some implementations, however, the air bladder 22 provided in the mattress assembly 20 can have a maximum operating pressure such that adding the predetermined pressure difference to the previously determined minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 will cause the maximum operating pressure of the air bladder 22 to be exceeded, which, in turn, can damage or rupture the air bladder 22. In this regard, in such implementations, the step 150 of determining the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 instead comprises limiting the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 to a level not to exceed the maximum operating pressure for the air bladder 22 (e.g., limiting it to the maximum operating pressure). Of course, the difference between the minimum personalized pressure and the maximum personalized pressure in a particular air bladder will also depend, at least in part, on the material used to make the particular air bladder and the properties of those materials. For instance, in air bladders including elastomeric materials, such as rubber, the difference between the minimum personalized pressure and the maximum personalized pressure may be greater than in those air bladders comprised of less stretchable materials.

As a refinement to the methods of the present invention, in some implementations, the minimum personalized pressure for an air bladder used in an exemplary system is not determined by measuring whether a rate of change has reached a given threshold value, but is instead determined by comparing the rate of change of the air pressure in the air bladder to a control rate of change. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, in another exemplary implementation, the initial steps of the method are performed substantially as described above with regard to FIG. 2. In particular, the mattress assembly 20 including the air bladder 22 is first provided, as indicated by step 200, and the air bladder 22 is inflated to an initial pressure prior to positioning a user on the mattress assembly 20, as indicated by steps 210 and 220. Also in a similar manner to the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 2, a selection of a setup routine is then received by the controller 60, as indicated by step 225. As part of the setup routine shown in FIG. 2, the air bladder 22 is then also deflated and a rate of change of the pressure in the air bladder is determined over a given time period, as indicated by steps 232 and 234. Subsequent to determining the rate of change of pressure, however, the determined rate of change of pressure is not compared to a threshold value. Rather, as indicated by step 236 of FIG. 3, the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder is then compared to a control rate of change or, in other words, a rate of change known to be associated with a particular minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22.

For example, in certain implementations, a control rate of change can be established through the use of a previously-constructed dataset that correlates various rates of change of air pressure in an air bladder to minimum personalized pressures for that air bladder. Such a dataset can be established by providing the mattress assembly 20 including the air bladder 22 in the system 10 and then determining a series of minimum personalized pressures by individually positioning various users on the mattress assembly 20, deflating the air bladder 22 of the mattress assembly 20, and monitoring the rate of change in pressure in the air bladder 22, such as what is described herein above with reference to FIG. 2. By performing multiple tests with various individual users in this manner, a dataset can thus be established that then can be used to provide a correlation between various rates of change of pressure (e.g., control rates of change) to various minimum personalized pressures. In this regard, and referring again more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3, once the rate of change of air pressure in the air bladder 22 has been compared to a control rate of change, the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 can then be determined by identifying the minimum personalized pressure in the dataset that is associated with the particular control rate of change, as indicated by step 240. With the minimum personalized pressure identified, the maximum personalized pressure can then be determined, as indicated by step 250, by, for example, identifying the maximum operating pressure for the air bladder or by adding a predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure as described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, in yet another exemplary implementation of a method of personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly that makes use of the exemplary system 10 in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided that, like the methods shown in FIGS. 2-3, includes the initial steps of providing the mattress assembly 20 including the air bladder 22, inflating the air bladder 22 to an initial pressure, positioning a user on the mattress assembly 20, and selecting a setup routine, as indicated by steps 300, 310, 320, and 325, respectively. Instead of deflating the air bladder 22 and monitoring a rate of change in air pressure in the air bladder 22, however, in the implementation illustrated in FIG. 4, an initial change in air pressure in the air bladder 22 is then determined, via measurement by the pressure sensor 50, subsequent to positioning the particular user on the air bladder, as indicated by step 330. As indicated by step 340, that initial change in air pressure is then communicated to the controller 60 that, in turn, determines the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 by comparing the initial change in pressure to a control value (e.g., a control value included in a pre-established dataset correlating various initial changes in pressure to minimum personalized pressures for particular users of the mattress assembly 20). Like the methods illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, upon determining the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22, the maximum personalized air pressure can then be determined, as indicated by step 350.

As an even further refinement to the methods of the present invention, in some implementations, rather than collecting pressure change data after positioning a user on the mattress assembly 20 and deflating the air bladder 22 or rather than collecting pressure change data after the initial change in air pressure observed subsequent to positioning a user on the air bladder 22, pressure change data is collected while the air bladder 22 is inflated. For example, and referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, in one exemplary implementation, the mattress assembly 20 is first provided and the air bladder 22 is inflated to a low initial pressure, as indicated by steps 400 and 410. In this regard, when a particular user is subsequently positioned on the mattress assembly 20, as indicated by step 420, the mattress assembly 20 is already bottomed out or is inflated to the lowest possible pressure setting at which the user does not bottom out. The user can then select the appropriate setup routine, as indicated by step 425, and the controller 60 then causes the air bladder 22 to be inflated to a secondary pressure, as indicated by step 430. As the air bladder is being inflated to the secondary pressure, pressure change data is collected, as indicated by step 440, and can include, for example, pressure change data related to the rate at which the air bladder is inflated from the initial air pressure to the secondary air pressure. Then, after collecting the pressure change data, the initial pressure in the air bladder 22 and the pressure change data collected for that particular user can be used to determine the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder 22 using any of the methods described herein above, as indicated by step 450. For example, in such embodiments, if the air bladder 22 is empty and is inflated, the rate of change in pressure in the air bladder 22 will typically be low until the air bladder 22 is inflated to the point where the air bladder 22 begins to support the user. At that point, the minimum personalized pressure can be identified as the point at which the user is no longer contacting the underlying foundation or the point at which the pressure in the air bladder begins to exceed the pressure being exerted on the air bladder 22 by the user. Then, upon determining the minimum personalized air pressure for the air bladder 22, the maximum personalized air pressure for the air bladder 22 can also be determined as described herein above and as indicated by step 460.

With respect to the systems and methods of the present invention, as indicated above, pressure change data is generally collected to determine a minimum and maximum pressure for the air bladder. However, it is additionally contemplated that, in certain embodiments, minimum and maximum pressures can be determined using one or more different or additional types of data. For instance, in certain implementations and with continued reference to FIG. 1, it is contemplated that minimum and maximum pressure settings can be calculated by initially selecting, via the controller 60, the lowest pressure setting for the air bladder 22 at which a particular user does not “bottom out.” In such an implementation, the controller 60 can then adjust the minimum pressure setting allowable from the default settings (i.e., the out-of-the-box settings) for the air bladder 22 to the new user-based setting to thereby establish a minimum personalized pressure setting for that particular user. Given that minimum personalized pressure setting, the controller 60 can then select a maximum personalized pressure for that particular user by either setting the maximum personalized pressure as the maximum operating pressure for the air bladder 22 or by adding a predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure as described herein above.

As another example of a method whereby minimum and maximum pressures can be determined using types of data different than or additional to pressure change data, in other implementations, the controller 60 can determine and adjust pressure limits for a particular user based on the inputting of a particular user's weight into the controller 60 and the subsequent selection by the controller 60 of suitable minimum and maximum pressure limits for the air bladder 22 from predetermined limits stored in the data storage device and that have been found suitable for certain weights of users.

With further respect to the systems and methods of the present invention, although the systems and methods described herein above have been described in relation to mattress assemblies that include an air bladder and that are dimensionally-sized to support a user lying in a supine or prone position, it is contemplated that the features described herein are equally applicable to other support cushions including head pillows, seat cushions, seat backs, neck pillows, leg spacer pillows, mattress topers, overlays, and the like. Likewise, while the above descriptions were made with reference to the use of a single air bladder, it is also contemplated that multiple air bladders can be included in a support cushion and then used in accordance with the systems and methods of the present invention.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments or implementations are possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention or the scope of the claims which follow. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments and implementations disclosed herein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly, comprising: providing a mattress assembly including an air bladder; inflating the air bladder to an initial pressure; collecting pressure change data subsequent to positioning a particular user on the mattress assembly; and determining a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder based on the pressure change data collected for the particular user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting pressure change data comprises: deflating the air bladder subsequent to positioning the particular user on the mattress assembly; and monitoring a rate of change of pressure in the air bladder to thereby determine the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of monitoring the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder comprises: determining an amount of a decrease in pressure in the air bladder at a series of time points; and analyzing the amount of the decrease in pressure at each of the time points to determine the rate of change of pressure over the series of time points such that the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder is determined when the rate of change of pressure reaches a threshold value.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of monitoring the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder comprises determining an amount of a decrease in pressure in the air bladder over a time period, and wherein the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder is determined when the amount of decrease in pressure reaches a threshold value.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder further comprises comparing the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder to a control rate of change to thereby determine the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder based on the minimum personalized pressure.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder comprises adding a predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder comprises the steps of: adding a predetermined pressure difference to the minimum personalized pressure to calculate an upper pressure; and comparing the upper pressure to a maximum operating pressure for the air bladder; wherein the upper pressure is selected as the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder if the upper pressure is less than the maximum operating pressure, and wherein the maximum operating pressure is selected as the maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder if the upper pressure is greater than the maximum operating pressure.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting pressure change data comprises determining an initial change in pressure subsequent to positioning the particular user on the mattress assembly.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder further comprises comparing the initial change in pressure to a control value to thereby determine the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting pressure change data comprises: inflating the air bladder to a secondary pressure subsequent to positioning the particular user on the mattress assembly; and monitoring a rate of change of pressure in the air bladder as the air bladder is inflated to the secondary pressure.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of monitoring the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder as the air bladder is inflated to the secondary pressure comprises: determining an amount of an increase in pressure in the air bladder at a series of time points; and analyzing the amount of the increase in pressure at each of the time points to determine the rate of change of pressure over the series of time points.
 13. A method of personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly, comprising: providing a mattress assembly including an air bladder; inflating the air bladder to an initial pressure; deflating the air bladder subsequent to positioning a particular user on the mattress assembly; determining a rate of change of pressure in the air bladder; and identifying a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder based on the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the rate of change of pressure in the air bladder comprises determining an amount of a decrease in pressure in the air bladder over a time period, and wherein the minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder is identified when the amount of decrease in pressure reaches a threshold value.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of determining a maximum personalized pressure for the air bladder based on the minimum personalized pressure.
 16. A system for personalizing pressure settings in a mattress assembly, comprising: a mattress assembly including an air bladder; a relief valve operably connected to the air bladder for deflating the air bladder; a pump operably connected to the air bladder for inflating the air bladder; a pressure sensor operably connected to the air bladder for collecting and providing pressure change data; and a controller in communication with the relief valve, the pump, and the pressure sensor, the controller for storing and receiving a selection of one or more setup routines directed to a selected timing for inflating and deflating the air bladder and to a timing for collecting pressure change data from the pressure sensor to determine a minimum personalized pressure for the air bladder. 